House votes to cut some Illinois regional superintendents

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn will get the chance to cut the number of regional school superintendents—a group of elected officials he tried to eliminate altogether last year.

DAVID THOMAS

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn will get the chance to cut the number of regional school superintendents—a group of elected officials he tried to eliminate altogether last year.

Senate Bill 2706, unanimously approved by the Illinois House Friday, would cut the number of superintendents from 44 to 35 and fund the positions out of the state's general revenue fund.

Quinn last year zeroed out funding for the officials, saying the positions should be funded by local sources. Lawmakers eventually restored state funding through the corporate personal property replacement tax.

Should Quinn sign the bill into law, the number of superintendents will drop from 44 to 35 by the next election in 2014, said Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley, the bill’s chief sponsor.

The legislation would increase the number of residents in each superintendent’s district from 43,000 to 61,000. However, Rep. Jerry Mitchell, R-Sterling, pointed out that the State Board of Education has the authority to reduce the number of superintendents further if necessary.

“That population figure is vitally important. If they don’t reach that 61,000 population in each of the service regions, then the state board has the right to add to those service regions until that 61,000 population is met,” Mitchell said. “So the maximum number of regions you’ll have is 35. It could be less, but it won’t be more.”

The Illinois Association of Regional School Superintendents backs the proposal.

David Thomas can be reached at (217) 782-6292.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.